Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday released the book “Khutbat-e-Modi: Lal Qila Ki Faseel Se” in New Delhi. The book is a compilation of the Independence Day addresses delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Red Fort between 2014 and 2025.
Published in Urdu, the book has been brought out by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), New Delhi, a national institution under the Ministry of Education mandated to promote, preserve, and propagate the Urdu language across the country.
Addressing the gathering, Pradhan expressed his happiness at the publication of “Khutbat-e-Modi” in Urdu, describing it as a meaningful step towards linguistic inclusion.
The Minister said that in the Prime Minister’s addresses, initiatives such as Antyodaya (uplifting the last person), welfare of the poor, Swachh Bharat, national unity, and the aspirations of 140 crore Indians are emphasised, reflecting the vision of New India.
The minister noted that such publications serve as a powerful medium to directly connect citizens with the Prime Minister’s ideas, developmental priorities, and vision, enabling wider public engagement and informed discourse. He expressed the hope that the book would find a place in libraries across the country, encouraging students, scholars, and readers to engage in a broader dialogue on the vision of Viksit Bharat.
The minister further noted that the NCPUL should proactively undertake the responsibility of publishing works related to India’s heritage, culture, lifestyle, and knowledge traditions in Urdu. Pradhan congratulated NCPUL for this commendable initiative and conveyed his best wishes for future endeavours.
The event was attended by Dr Vineet Joshi, Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education; Padma Shri Chamu Krishna Shastry, Chairman, Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti; Dr Shams Iqbal, Director, NCPUL; Prof Naima Khatoon, Vice-Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University; Dr Shahid Akhtar, Chairman, NCMEI; Manmohan Kaur, Adviser (Cost), Ministry of Education; Rina Sonowal Kauli, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education; P K Banerjee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education; and the senior officials of the Ministry of Education.